Splined coupling



' WILLIAM G. aALK/Ns. Z 5 WMM ATTORNEYS.

April 30, w. G. CALKINS El AL 2,198.654

SPLINED COUPLING Filed Dec. 23, 1958 I a U INVENTOR CARL. BREER AND Patented Apr. 30, 1 940 SPLI NED COUPLING William G. Calkins, Detroit, and Carl Breer,

Grosse Pointe Park,- Mich.,

assignors to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich.. a corporation of Delaware Application December 23, 1938, Serial No. 247,350

6 Claims.

iThis invention relates to an improved splined J n More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in joints of this character by which shaft sections are nonrotatably but slidably connected together.

One of the main objects of the invention is the provision in a joint of this kind of porous metal splined portions having m tained lubricant content.

Another object of the invention is the provision of lubricant-filled porous metal surface portions on all slidably engaged parts of a splined joint of this character.

A further object of the invention is the provision on the inner' and outer telescoping joint members ofsplines having porous metal lubricant-containing portions slidably engaged with solid metal splined portions respectively.

0 A still further object of the invention isthe provision of splines on one of the relatively shiftable parts of a joint of this kind which have solid metal sections engaged with a portion'of the solid metal splines of the other member for 5 transmitting torque from one part to the other .part and porous lubricant-containing metal sections engaged with other portions of the solid metal splines for supplying lubricant to the slida substantial self-conably engaged surfaces of the relative parts of 0 the joint.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a splined joint embodying the inven- 5 tion.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, of a joint embodying a modified form of 0 the invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Figs. 2 and 3, illustrating a splined joint embodying another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figs. 5 2, 3 and 4 but illustrating a splined joint embodying a further modification of the invention. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there is illustrated'a splined joint between a universal coupling, generally designated by the D numeral III, and a propeller shaft generally designated by the numeral II. The universal coupling III comprises asolid metal shank portion I2 which serves as the inner telescoping joint member and the propeller shaft II comprises a. 5 metal tube I3 on which is fixed, preferably by welding, an outer telescoping joint member I4. Fitted in the outer joint member I4 is a sleeve I5 comprising porous bearing metal preferably formed by compressing a charge of metal powders into a cylindrical briquette and thereafter 5 sintering the briquette. The sleeve I5 is preferably integrally fixed to the internal surface of the outer joint member I4. This may be accomplished by placing the compressed briquette of which the sleeve I5 is formed into the outer member I4 before sintering and then simultaneously sintering and bonding the sleeve I5 to the inner surface of the joint member I4 by subjecting the assembly to sintering temperatures in a non-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere. If desired, however, the briquette of Will-01113119 sleeve I5 is formed may be sintered before insertion into the outer joint member I4 and the bonding operation may be separately conducted by thereafter subjecting the assembly to suitably high term at peratures in a non-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere. After the sleeve I5 has been sintered and 1 bonded to the internal surface of the outer joint member IE, splines I6 are broached or otherwise suitably formed in the interior of the sleeve. The height of the splines I6 in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is less than the total thickness of the sleeve.

Fitted on the exterior of the inner joint member I2 is a sleeve H which also comprises porous 80 bearing metal formed in the same manner as the sleeve I5 by compression and sintering of the powdered metal. The sleeve Il may be sintered before assembly on the joint member I2 and thereafter bonded to the exterior surface of the 36 latter by heating it to a suitably high temperature in a non-oxidizing or reducing atmosphere, or the briquette from whichth'e sleeve I-i is formed may be simultaneously sintered and bonded to the joint member I2 as set forth in connection with 49 the description of the attachment of the sleeve I5 to the joint member I 4. Formed, by milling or other suitable operations, on theexterior of thesleeve Ii are a plurality of splines I8 which cooperate with the splines IS in holding the relatively shiftable parts of the joint against relative rotative movement. After the sleeves I5 and I! have been bonded to the respective parts of the joints, their pores are filled with lubricant, preferably by heating the parts and immersing them in an oil bath. In this form of the invention all slidably engaged surfaces of the joint comprise porous bearing metal having a substantial self contained lubricant content which in many installations is adapted to serve throughout the life of the structure. y

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the splined joint comprises an outer joint member I4 and a porous bearing metal sleeve l5 substantially identical to the corresponding parts of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The inner joint member i2, however, hw splines I9 formed on its exterior which consist of the same metal as the body portion of the joint member l2. In this form of the invention the solid metal splines iii of the inner joint member are in sliding in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with an internal sleeve comprising lubricant-filled porous bearing metal in the same manner as the sleeve I5 is provided in and-bonded to the outer joint member ll of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The porous bearing metal sleeve employed in .forming the joint illustrated in Fig. 4, is, however, of substantially less thickness than the sleeve l5 and after it has been bonded to the internal surfaces of the outer joint member i4, splines are broached in the interior of the latter by a broaching operation during which a cut is made completely through the porous bearing metal sleeve and into the body of the outer joint member I4, thus leaving a layer 2|] of lubricant-filled porous hearing metal on the outer extremity of each spline 2] formed by the broaching operation.

The inner joint member I! of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 is provided on its exterior with a lubricant-filled porous bearing metal sleeve in the same manner as the sleeve I1 is provided on and bonded to the inner joint member I! of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The porous metal sleeve which is bonded to the inner joint member I2 is, however, of less thickness than the sleeve l1 and is preferably predetermined in thickness to be substantially equal to the difierence between the 1 thickness of the layer of porous bearing metal 20 on the splines of the outer joint member and the entire height of the splines. After the inner joint member II has been provided with a relatively thin sleeve of porous metal splines 22 are formed on the exterior thereof by a milling or other suitable operation during which cuts are made through the porous metal sleeve and into the body of the metal of which the inner joint member I2 is formed, thereby providing on the outer extremities of the splines 22 layers 23 of porous bearing metal which havea substantial self-contained lubricant content. The thicknesses of the layers 20 and 23 of porous bearing metal are preferably so predetermined with respect to the depths of the splines as to provide porous bearing metal surfaces on the splines of each member for contacting with the metal surfaces of the other member respectively which comprise the solid metal of the joint parts. However, if it is desired to directly engage together the solid metal sections of the splines of the respective parts of the joint, then the layers II and 23 of porous bearing'metal may be predetermined in thickness so that their combined thickness is less than the depth of one spline.

-In Fig. 5 is illustrated a splined joint similar to that shown in Fig. 4 in which is provided an inner joint member l2 having splines 22 on its exterior provided with porous metal layers 23. The outer joint part 24 has splines 25 comprising the metal of the joint'part formed by breaching directly into the body of the outer joint part. In this form of the invention, portions of the splines of both joint parts comprising the metal thereof are disposed in registration with each other for the purpose of transferring torque directly from one joint part to the other. The lubricantfilled' porous metal layers 23 on the-splines of the inner part serve as lubricant reservoirs and wiping wicks by whichfllms of lubricant are supplied to the engaged surfaces of the splines.

The porous bearing metal employed in any of the foregoing embodiments of the invention may be formed by mixing together parts by weight of powdered copper, 10 parts by weight of powdered tin, part by weight of stearic acid and /2 part by weight of graphite or Zonolite. Zonolite comprises powdered exfoliated vermiculite, a mica-like composition. After these ingredients have been thoroughly mixed together, they may be compressed in a suitable die to the desired sleeve shape and then sintered at from 1500 F.

to 1550 F. The'sintering operation, as set forth above, may be conducted simultaneously with the bonding operation by properly arranging the briquetted sleeve on the joint part. The briquetting operation may be conducted in a die so formed as to directly provide the splines l6 during the briquetting operation. The powdered metal charge may be formed to a sheet-like shape and wrapped or otherwise suitably brought to cylindrical form.

Other suitable compositions from which porous bearing metal may be formed comprise 25 parts by weight of copper, 74 parts by weight of iron, 1 part by weight of stearic acid and part by weight of graphite or Zonolite. The sintering of this composition should be conducted at substan-' tially from 1900" F. to 2200 F.

The assurance of ample lubricant on the surfaces of the splines of a joint of thistype permits the use thereof in many applications where the splines are under extreme torque loads, pressure upon the lubricant-filled porous bearing metal causing the lubricant to be exuded when lubricant is required. It is not necessary to rely upon the porous bearing metal solely to transmit torque from one member of a splined joint to the other for, as set forth, the splines may'include registering portions comprising the solid metal of the joint parts. The presence of lubricantfllled porous bearing metal in close proximity to the bearing surfaces of the splines assures proper lubrication thereof.

Although but several specific embod ments of the invention are herein shown and described, it will be understood that various changes in the sequence of operations, steps and materials employed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising relatively movable parts having slidably engaged splines thereon, a portion of the splines of at least one of saidparts comprising a compressed and sintered powdered metal porous structure having a substantial selfcontained lubricant content.

2. A. joint comprisingmelatively movable telescoping metal parts, andie gageable splines on the adjacent inner and outer sides of said parts respectively, one of each pair\\ofj engageable splines comprising a portion consisting of the metal of one of said parts and a laye of compressed and sintered porous bearing metal haviiingta substantial self-contained lubricant cony en 3. A joint comprising relatively movable telescoping metal parts, engageable splines on ad- J'acent inner and outer sides of said parts respectively, one of each pair of engageable splines having a layer of porous bearing metal comprising a Compressed and sintered powdered metal structure engageable with a portion of the other spline comprising the metal of said parts respectively, said porous bearing metal having a substantial self-contained lubricant content, and the splines of each 'engageable pair thereof having engageable portions comprising the metal of said parts.

4. A device comprising relatively movable metal parts, engageable spline-like members on adjacent sides of said parts, one of each pair of said engageable members having a layer of porous bearing metal comprising a compressed and sintered powdered metal structure engageable with a portion of the other member comprising the metal of said parts respectively, and the splinelike members of each engageable pair thereof having engageable portions comprising the metal of said parts, said porous bearing metal having a substantial self -contained lubricant content and being integrally bonded to said metal parts.

5. A joint comprising relatively movable telescoping metal parts, splines on one of said parts, and a sleeve having splines thereon cooperating with said first mentioned splines and fiiced to the other part, said sleeve comprising porous bearing metal having a compressed and sintered powdered metal body portion and having a substantial self-contained lubricant content.

6. A joint comprising relatively movable telescoping inner and outer metal parts, a pair of sleeves having cooperating splines thereon, one

of said sleeves being integrally bonded to the exterior of said inner part and the other integrally bonded to the interior of said outer part,

said sleeves comprising porous bearing metal having a compressed and sintered body portion and a substantial self-contained lubricant content.

CARL BREER. WILLIAM G. CALKINS. 

